CHURCHILL FLAYS GOVERNMENT POLICY ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22817, 11 December 1948, Page 5

CHURCHILL FLAYS GOVERNMENT POLICY ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

.Z.P.A.—Keuter— Copyright.)

LONDON, Dec. 10.

(10.30 a.m,)

Mr. Churchill accused the Government in the House of Commons today of having treated the Opposition, with “extreme disdain” and excluded it from the slightest share in the Government councils on foreign affairs ever since it took office.

Dir. Churchill, who was speaking in the debate on foreign affairs, said : “.1 marvel at the gulf which, in their arrogance and conceit, our rulers have opened and maintained between themselves and those who led them forward through the storm.”

Britisli-U.S. Co-operation Mr, Churchill said he rejoiced in the present co-operation between Britain and the United States “because in the ever closer unity of the English-speak-ing world lies the main hope of our human freedom and a great part of hopes of our own survival.”. The most remarkable point of this co-operation was the stationing of American bombers in East Anglia. Mr. Churchill declared that the Berlin air-lift had taught the people of Germany on either side of the “iron curtain” in a way that no speeches, arguments or promises could that their future lay in ever closer association with the Western World. “Let France as the most injured take the lead in bringing the German people back to the European family,” he said. “In this way alone can they revive their own fame and regain their place in the world."

“Return Envoys to Spain”

Mr. Churchill asked: “Why should we be told that the Spanish people must be treated as outsiders just because they are governed by General Franco? We should send our envoys back to Madrid as soon as we can obtain the sanction of the United Nations. “We should endeavour td reach a settlement with Russia before they have the atomic bomb. Only ,in this resides the best hope of avoiding a third world war.” Mr. Churchill read a letter which he wrote to Marshal Stalin on April 29, 1945, and which he described as the “outpourings of his heart.” He told members: “It was my dearest wish and I believed that effective cooperation of the three great Powers should have opened the golden age to mankind. I can only regret the reasons which make it difficult.”

Recalling Mr. Bcvin’s personal assurance in November, 1945, that he would stake his political future on solving the Palestine problem, Mr. Churchill commented that no part of the Government policy had been more marked by misjudgment and mismanagement than Palestine. It seemed likely that the Foreign Secretary had misjudged the relative power of the Arabs and Jews. Palestine was not a party question. The Government of Israel could not be ignored or treated as if it did not exist. He entirely supported Mr. Eden that Britain should send representatives to Tel Aviv without further delay. Dalton’s Policy Under Fire

Mr. Churchill said that Dr. Dalton, the leader of the delegation to the Paris conference on European unity, had been an opponent of European unify except when it was on Socialist party lines. Mr. Bovin interjected: “I was a party to the appointment by Dr. Dalton because I had absolute confidence in his doing the job.” Mr. Churchill commented: “A more chilling welcome to a comrade and colleague I have rarely heard.” Mr. C. P. Mayhew, replying to the debate, said the Government intended to maintain its position in Hong Kong. It was thought that support for the entry of Spain into the United Nations at present would be a psychological blunder and it did not intend to attempt mediation between the Greek Government and the rebels. The Government had no intention of ocrmanently ostracising the Jews, but it could not at this time state that it was prepared to recognise the State of Israel.